Tool for removing a plugged-in article from a plug-in receptacle



p 1963 s. BRISTOL m 3,103,836

TOOL FDR REMOVING A PLUGGED-IN ARTICLE FROM A PLUG-IN RECEPTACLE FiledApril 21, 1961 Fig-6 IN VEN TOR.

ATTo EY5 United States Patent 3,103,836 TOOL FOR REMOVING A PLUGGED-INARTICLE FROM A PLUG-IN RECEPTACLE Benedict Bristol III, Morganton, NC.Filed Apr. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 104,745 1 Claim. (Cl. 81-3) This inventionrelates generally to tools, and more particularly to a tool adapted forremoval of plugged-in articles such as vacuum tubes, tubular condensers,vibrators, and similar objects, from plug-in receptacles.

Various types of tube puller tools have heretofore been suggested. Whilesome of such tools have performed satisfactorily under limitedconditions, workers in the art have long felt 'a need for an efiicienttubepuller which is inexpensive in manufacture, and which provides forpositive engagement and support of the tube, or similar article duringremoval thereof from an operating plug-in receptacle or socket.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide atube-puller *(a) which serves to grasp and remove a tube by mechanicalrather than frictional means; (b) which employs no moving parts in theconstruction thereof, thus reducing manufacturing costs; (0) whichutilizes means effecting a snug and safe enclosure for the tube untilcomplete removal has been effectuated, and (d) in addition, which isparticularly adapted for effecting removal of plug-in articles from aconfined or tight space.

A further primary object of the present invention is to provide a toolconforming with the preceding object, and permitting the quick andeflicient removal of a tube or other plugged-in article, throughmechanical means, without allowing the hand of the user to come intocontact with the article.

Yet other, additional, and more specific objects of the presentinvention are: (a) to provide an improved tubepuller in accordance withthe preceding general objects, which fitube-puller can be easily formedfrom available components and materials; (b) to provide such atubepuller incorporating a handle member having a foot at one endthereof, a finger engaging loop at the other end thereof, and a tubeencircling hand intermediate the ends thereof, whereby the band may beplaced in encircling relation with the tube and the foot passedthereunder to effect removal of the tube; (0) to provide such atubepuller wherein the band is formed from a flexible metallic braidedstrip provided with a stiffening agent at the ends thereof, and whereinthe stiffened ends are coupled with the handle portion or member of thepuller so that there is positive support of the band adjacent the handleportion yet flexibility of the band to allow for passing the same abouta tube; and (d) to provide such a tubepuller wherein the tube encirclingband thereof is dis posed in spaced relation to the foot thereof so thatthe band engages the upper portion of a tube or other article to beremoved while the foot portion of the puller engages the base of thetube or other article to be removed, thus allowing for pivoting of thetool about the foot and positive support and engagement of the tube orother article by the puller during a removal operation.

The invention lies in the construction, arrangement, and assembly of thevarious components which serve to provide the improved tube pnller, aswill become apparent after consideration is given to the followingdetailed description. Such description refers to the annexed drawingspresenting the preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention.In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side-elevational view presenting a tool constructed inaccordance with the present invention as the same would appear whileinitially being positioned over a conventional vacuum tube;

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FIGURE 2 is a side-elevational view similar to FIG- URE l, butpresenting the tool in the position which the same would occupy whilethe initial removing operation is being performed;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3---3 on FIGURE 2 andshowing the cooperating relationship between the band portion of thetool, the handle portion of the tool, and a tube being removed;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 andpresenting in some detail the manner in which the band portion of thetool is coupled with the handle portion thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a side-elevational view of a band member adapted to beincorporated in a tool constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the band member shown in FIGURE 5; and,

FIGURE 7 is a fragmental detailed view illustrating one method in whicha stiffening agent may be applied to the ends of a band member utilizedin the tool provided by the present invention.

If more specific reference is now made to the several views of thedrawing, it will 'be noted that the device provided for removing aplugged-in article, or tubepuller as it is more conventionally known, isgenerally designated by the numerals 4 and 10. The device tool comprisesan elongated rod member 4 which is bent at the upper end thereof to formthe finger engaging loop or handle projecting laterally from one sidethereof, namely, projecting to the right side as shown in FIG- URES 1and 2. The rod member 4 carries at the opposite end thereof a foot 8which is preferably formed integrally with the rod member 4. The foot 8extends laterally of the elongated rod member 4 projecting from the leftside thereof. Thus, the foot member projects from one side of theelongated rod member 4 and the handle or finger engaging loop 6 projectsfrom the opposite side of such elongated rod.

A'fiexible band member 10 adapted to encircle the article to be removed,which is shown as a tube 12, is disposed in spaced relation to the foot8 and means generally designated by the numeral 14 are provided forcoupling the band member to the elongated rod member 4.

It should be understood that while reference is made to the elongatedrod member 4 hereinabove, the same in effect serves as a handle which isprovided with the finger loop 6 at the upper end thereof. The loop 6comprises a bent over end portion of the rod 4.

In operation, the device is placed over the tubular article to beremoved and the foot 8, as shown in FIGURE 2, is passed under the lowerperipheral edge of the article. To facilitate passing the foot undersuch edge, the same is Ibeveled as at 8'. This beveling, as explained inmore detail below, serves in addition to provide a pivot point 16 whichallows for applying force in the direction of the arrow A of FIGURE 2 toeffect removal of the tube.

The band member 10 is preferably formed from a braided metallic striphaving the ends thereof impregnated with a suitable stiffening materialsuch as the solder 18. The stiffening operation can be achieved bydipping the ends of the band 10 into a solder bath 20 as shownschematically in FIGURE 7.

After the band has been provided with the stiffening agent at the endsthereof, the same is folded to provide a ring with the solderimpregnated ends thereof disposed in over-lapping relation as shown inFIGURE 4. Suitable apertures 22 and 24 (FIGURE 6) are provided in eachof the solder impregnated ends, and these apertures are adapted toregister with one another and with a suitable aperture 26 provided inthe elongated rod member 4. A

bolt 28 is passed through the apertures and a nut 30 is tightened on thethreaded end of the bolt to positively tion discussed above.

action does not cause suflicient lateral displacement to in secure theband member to the elongated rod member 4. Thus, the means coupling theband member to the rod member comprises a shaft element carryingenlarged securing heads at opposite ends thereof, one head being definedby the bolt head itself, and the other head being defined by the nut 30.

' The provision of the solder impregnated ends on the flexible bandmember 10 insures positive and fixed coupling of the band member to theelongated rod member,

yet permits flexing of the central portion of the hand member toaccommodate the article to be removed.

It will be understood that when the tube-puller 2 is positioned as shownin FIGURE 2, and force is applied in the direction of arrow A, thearticle to be pulled, or tube 12, is initially moved upward slightlyunder the pivoting action of the tube-puller about the pivot point 16.After this initial action, the tube is sufficiently loose in the socket,and upward force applied in the direction of the arrow B by a fingerengaged in the loop 6 will effect removal of the tube. The constructionis such that positive support is provided for the tube during the wholeremoval operation, the band member 10 encircling and engaging the tube,and the foot 8 being disposed under and engaging the base of the tube.

As appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, plug-inreceptacles or sockets permit a certain amount of lateral flexing ofplug-in articles held thereby. Thus, the sockets do not restrict theinitial pivoting removing ac- At the same time, such pivoting any waydamage the plug-in receptacle or socket.

While the materials of construction may vary depend ing on theparticular use, without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention, the preferred embodiment prescribes forming the elongated rodelement 4 from steel and the band member 10 from braided copper strands.It has been found that the steel handle provides adequate support andthat the copper insures the required flexibility.

Moreover, like the materials used in construction, the dimensions of thetube-puller provided by the invention may vary depending on theparticular tubes or other articles to be removed. However, the foot 8should be sufiiciently short, or project inwardly by a sufficientlyshort distance, so as to not make electrical contact with tube pins orconnections during a removal operation. If the foot is so dimensioned,then the tool may be used for removal of tubes from operating circuitswithout danger of shock or equipment damage.

After reading the foregoing detailed description of the illustrative andpreferred embodiment presented in the annexed drawings, it should beapparent that the objects set forth at the outset of this specificationhave been successfully achieved. Accordingly, What is claimed is:

A device for removing a plugged-in article from a plugin receptacle,said device comprising an elongated rod member, said rod member beingbent at one end to form a finger loop projecting laterally from one sidethereof; said rod member carrying at the opposite end a foot extendinglaterally from the other side thereof and terminating in a beveled tip;a flexible band member adapted to encircle the article, said band membercomprising a metal braided strip having means thereon for stiffening theends thereof, said ends meeting and overlapping adjacent said rodmember; and means coupling said band member to said rod member with saidband member being disposed inspaced relation to said foot and projectinglaterally of said rod member from said other side thereof, said meanscoupling said band member to said rod member comprising a shaft elementcarrying enlarged securing heads at opposite ends thereof, said shaftelement passing through said ends of said band member and said rodmember.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,320,043 Merkle May 25, 1943 2,325,841 Faber Aug. 3, 1943 2,576,262M'orehead Nov. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,793 Great Britain of 1909711,169 Great Britain June 23, 1954

